People's Theatre Project is seeking experienced teaching artists with a theatre background to join our passionate and growing family of artist-activist-educators. Bilingual Spanish/English speakers are strongly encouraged to apply.

People's Theatre Project cultivates ongoing artistic dialogue with young people in NYC’s neighborhoods of color to amplify their voices and grow local action. Through student-centered and culturally relevant arts-based programming, youth participants are immersed in experiential learning projects that deepen their sense of power, strengthen their connection to their communities and support the development of creative, collaborative and compassionate leaders with 21st century skills.

People’s Theatre Project is deeply invested in its home neighborhood of Washington Heights and Inwood in northern Manhattan, and strives to be an impactful part of the lives of the young people it serves there. Through long term partnerships with schools and community-based organizations, People’s Theatre Project engages PreK-12 youth in programming that explores social themes that are connected to their lives while teaching skills in both art making and organizing, serving as a welcome entry point for civic action in the social justice movement.

Play at Payson

By Luis A. Miranda

Manhattan Times July 19, 2017

Luz, Abuela Claudia and I spent countless hours at the Payson Avenue Playground, located on the corner of the same street where we have lived since 1981. During the 80’s, it was the magical place where our little Lin-Manuel played for hours on the swings and slides. He would run around and around until it was time for his afternoon nap.

Decades later, our nephew Miguel’s favorite place was also Payson Avenue Playground. Abuela Claudia, Rosa, Landa, Luz and I spent countless hours alternating between keeping watch and joining in his games until Miguel tired himself out. During that time the Parks Department had modernized the playground and Miguel’s favorite activity was to run in and out of the sprinklers that shot out showers until his play clothes were drenched. I would often sing him the same lullaby in Spanish I used to sing to Lin-Manuel.

Recently when we needed to film a short documentary together as a family, we all met at Payson Avenue Playground. We wanted to create a new memory within the same place that had been so special for two generations over 36 years.

While we were there, we soon saw how a third generation was enjoying the park as much as Lin-Manuel and Miguel had when they were kids. It occurred to us to call Jennifer Hoppa, Parks Administrator in Northern Manhattan. With her warm smile and her unique desire to serve, Jennifer showed up instantly and joined with us as we discussed how to create new experiences at the Playground.

As we brainstormed, we realized that involving People’s Theatre Project, which has been serving over 1000 New Yorkers every year since 2008, would be an ideal partnership. This week, the arts organization started inviting neighborhood families to attend and enjoy theater as an active art form and as a way to participate in creating community. On July 25th, People’s Theatre Project will be back at 10 a.m. Then on August 14, 15 and 16, they’ll lead a mini-camp for kids and families.

I hope all our neighbors visit the corner park on those days and any other so that they too can create unique memories in that very special place for the Miranda clan – the Payson Avenue Playground.

People's Theatre Project cultivates ongoing artistic dialogue with young people in NYC’s neighborhoods of color to amplify their voices and grow local action. Through student-centered and culturally relevant arts-based programming, youth participants are immersed in experiential learning projects that deepen their sense of power, strengthen their connection to their communities and support the development of creative, collaborative and compassionate leaders with 21st century skills.

About the Position:

People's Theatre Project is seeking an Administrative Coordinator who will support daily operations in program, development, and general administration areas. Duties will include managing teaching staff schedules, researching and maintaining list of prospective funders, supporting prep and follow up of all fundraising efforts, and supporting school invoicing procedures. The individual will work in a collaborative and team-oriented work environment in Northern Manhattan and will report to the Co-Executive Directors.

Candidates should be comfortable working collaboratively in a small team environment. The role requires exceptional organizational, verbal and written communication skills, a strong ability to manage multiple projects at once, and attention to detail. Candidates should be resourceful, able to anticipate team needs, and must demonstrate a high degree of professionalism and integrity.

We love our parks and playgrounds - just like you! This summer, People’s Theatre Project is offering free theatre activities in Payson Playground for kids ages 4 - 10 and their adult family members. You and your child (or grandchild!) will play fun games and work together with a professional PTP teaching artist to make theatre inspired by our parks. Join us for one or more drop-in classes, and sign up for the mini camp!

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS — The members and founders of the People’s Theatre Project all have different backgrounds and careers, but they all share a common desire to use the stage as a springboard for social justice.

Mary Anderson, 69, is a retired psychiatric nurse; Maria Aristy, 67, is a retired home attendant while Carmen Barbosa, 75, provided child care before she retired. All three of them are activists, actresses and program coordinators and volunteer their time and their artistic skills performing live original shows as well as staging original plays submitted by people from the community as part of the nonprofit's mission.

Their work typically travels to the residents via different venues in the community including schools and after-school programs, to help create and perform unique vignettes on community-driven topics, such as domestic violence, housing displacement, immigration and aggressive landlords.

“It’s like therapy for me," said Aristy, who has been performing with the program for eight years.

The People Storm the Palace is just about a month away, and it's time to get excited! We're doing things a bit differently this year and wanted you to know what's new.

Here's the scoop:

FREE Admission - Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, all tickets are free of charge this year. So bring your whole family!

All About You - No awards, No big speeches, No VIP events. Just our community actors on stage doing what they do best. There may be a few surprises, but this year it's all about the arts, the community, and the stories.

It's a Festival! - The big event at the United Palace is just the icing on the cake this year. From May 18-20 at the Alianza Dominicana Cultural Center, the kids, teens, and adults in PTP's free public programs will premiere 5 original pieces in their entirety. So come see the full shows at Alianza, then check out the highlights from our school and public programs at the Palace on May 23.

What do you think? We're looking forward to it, and hope you are too. It's FREE, but it's best to Reserve your tickets in advance HERE.

People's Theatre Project is currently seeking vibrant professional teaching artists of all interdisciplinary performance specialties to join our passionate and growing family of artist-activist-educators. PTP teaching artists are placed in residencies within our 30 school and community sites across four boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Our devising curriculum is designed around three rigorous Writing and Speaking Common Core Standards that together, demand self-assessment, critical thinking, clarity, revision, editing, collaboration and creativity. Each site-specific residency is uniquely tailored to the needs of our partner organizations. Residencies generally range in length from 15-20 weeks (with the bulk of residencies occurring in Spring) and culminate in a formal sharing of the participants' devised theatrical collage presented for their community.

Theatre-makers specializing in acting, devised theatre, movement, playwriting, poetry, or puppetry with professional experience and an investment in working with public and independent school students in grades PreK-12 are strongly encouraged to apply.